A potential summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump may be on the horizon, according to a Russian official. This development comes as discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have concluded in Florida, amidst continued tensions and exchanges of fire between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
Yuri Ushakov, an aide to President Putin, stated that Moscow and Washington are making progress in negotiations regarding a settlement in Ukraine, with President Putin’s involvement. He also suggested that European nations are not contributing constructively to the resolution of the conflict, citing what he described as consistently unacceptable demands made on Moscow.
The Kremlin had previously indicated it was awaiting a response from the United States regarding talks held between Putin and U.S. representatives last week. While the Kremlin has not specified a date for a follow-up meeting between Russia and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, the possibility of a Trump-Putin summit adds a new layer of complexity to the situation.
Simultaneously, discussions between Ukrainian and American envoys in Miami, Florida, concluded early Friday. These talks focused on ending the war in Ukraine. Ukraine was represented by National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Andriy Hnatov. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a speech Thursday evening, stated that the Ukrainian delegation sought clarification on discussions held in Moscow the previous Tuesday between President Putin and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
European leaders have reportedly issued a strong warning to President Zelenskyy. According to the Wall Street Journal, European leaders cautioned the Ukrainian president against conceding to Russian demands without firm security guarantees from the United States. The warning was reportedly delivered during a phone call on Monday between Zelenskyy and European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. European officials reportedly emphasized the need for U.S. security commitments before any concessions are made.
The situation remains fluid, with the potential for a Trump-Putin summit adding further uncertainty to the already complex dynamics of the conflict in Ukraine.
